Entrepreneurship

Service design is a rapidly growing area of interest in design and business management. There are a lot of books on how to get started, but this is the first book that describes what a "good" service is and how to design one. This book lays out the essential principles for building services that work well for users. Demystifying what we mean by a "good" and "bad" service and describing the common elements within all services that mean they either work for users or don''t.A practical book for practitioners and non-practitioners alike interested in better service delivery, this book is the definitive new guide to designing services that work for users.

In this entrepreneurial age, it's very tempting to leave your job to start your own business. Before you do, learn all you can from the best. This book is just that. World renowned bestselling author and business consultant Brian Tracy tells you about one of today's most needed skill sets, entrepreneurship, covering these important topics:MYTHS of entrepreneurshipBEST business choice for youFINANCING the businessSHIFTING from employee mindset to entrepreneurial mindsetCREATING a realistic business planHIRING the best and managing for successFUELING your business growth with sales and marketingThis book is designed to help anyone who wants to start or grow a business. Let Brian Tracy teach you the science of entrepreneurship, tested and proven not just for years, but for millennia. If you simply study the ideas in this book, and apply them, you too, can become a successful entrepreneur.KIRKUS REVIEWA hard-line path to successful entrepreneurship for beginners...Aspiring entrepreneurs will benefit from Tracy's straightforward strategies.

The leading authority on network marketing shares everything you need to know to lead a successful direct sales team.Defcon 1 Direct Selling is the must-have playbook for anyone leading a direct sales team. It's Gage's follow up to the international bestseller, Direct Selling Success, and it's a handbook for leaders.DEFCON is the U.S. military acronym for "Defense Readiness Condition." DEFCON 1 is reserved only for imminent catastrophic events, like a nuclear war. Luckily, you don't have to fend off missile attacks in direct selling, but you will face some extremely difficult challenges and urgent crises leading your MLM team. No one knows how to lead teams better than author Randy Gage, a former high school dropout who rose to become a self-made multi-millionaire and inspire millions around the world. In this highly anticipated book, Randy teaches you how to hold your team together in the mostdifficult circumstances --the stuff no one likes to talk about, but that is vital for top-level leaders.It takes much more than a positive attitude and motivational words to be a successful field leader. True leadership requires you to deal with messy, complicated scenarios when there is not always a clear-cut solution. Many of these challenges are caused by factors completely out of your control--from economic, regulatory, and political setbacks, to having top leaders quit, to companies going out of business, and a host of other issues. It's at times like these, when it seems like your team is falling apart, that you must draw upon your resilience, persistence, and character to ride out the storm and lead your team through the chaos. This indispensable resource will enable you to:* Create a team culture of maximum readiness* Deal with toxic leaders and effectively handle conflict resolution* Use your leadership to make your team more powerful and build their self-esteem* Handle corporate incompetence, poor decisions, and PR crises* Know what to do when you or a team leader leave a companyMost leadership books will tell you, wrongly, that every situation has an ideal solution. Not this one. Defcon 1 Direct Selling: Manual for Field Leaders delivers the plain, unadulterated truth that everyone leading a direct sales team needs to know.

The must - read guidebook for entrepreneurs looking to get into accelerator programs and to build and scale their startups with speedAccelerator programs have become one of the most powerful and valuable resources for entrepreneurs seeking to learn rapidly, build powerful networks, raise capital, build their startups and do this at speed and scale. In recent years, the number of accelerator programs around the world has grown at an incredible rate, propelling startups such as AirBnB, Uber, DropBox, Reddit, and others -- many to billion-dollar valuations. The number of accelerators, the differences in accelerator program offerings and the unique benefits and costs of different accelerator locations makes choosing the right accelerator a challenge. Selecting the wrong accelerator, failing to be accepted in the right one, or not fully taking advantage of all the accelerator has to offer can be costly, sometimes fatal. With the stakes so high, entrepreneurs need to understand all their options, choose carefully and do the right things to maximize their chances of success.Startup Accelerators is the go to guide for any entrepreneur, providing a firsthand look into the acceptance criteria and inner workings of different accelerator programs. Written by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, this indispensable resource explains what different accelerator programs offer, how to get accepted, what to do during the program, how to raise money during accelerators, what to do after the program ends, and much more. Packed with real-world case studies and advice from leading experts on startup accelerator programs, this one-stop resource provides step-by-step guidance on the entire accelerator process.* Reveals how accelerators help founders navigate different challenges in the startup journey* Describes the differences in the benefits and costs of different accelerator programs* Explains how to prepare accelerator applications* Discloses what actions to take during an accelerator to make the most of it* Depicts case studies of entrepreneurs' accelerator applications, experiences and outcomes across different accelerators* Features interviews with accelerator program managers, founders who went through accelerators, and investors in companies going through or having gone through accelerators* Includes insightful data and reflections from entrepreneurship education researchers and academicsStartup Accelerators: A Field Guide will prove to be invaluable for startup founders considering or going through accelerators, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs, educators, and other startup accelerator stakeholders.

The Way Forward for Entrepreneurship Around the WorldWe are in the midst of a startup revolution. The growth and proliferation of innovation-driven startup activity is profound, unprecedented, and global in scope. Today, it is understood that communities of support and knowledge-sharing go along with other resources. The importance of collaboration and a long-term commitment has gained wider acceptance. These principles are adopted in many startup communities throughout the world.And yet, much more work is needed. Startup activity is highly concentrated in large cities. Governments and other actors such as large corporations and universities are not collaborating with each other nor with entrepreneurs as well as they could. Too often, these actors try to control activity or impose their view from the top-down, rather than supporting an environment that is led from the bottom-up. We continue to see a disconnect between an entrepreneurial mindset and that of many actors who wish to engage with and support entrepreneurship. There are structural reasons for this, but we can overcome many of these obstacles with appropriate focus and sustained practice.No one tells this story better than Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway. The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem explores what makes startup communities thrive and how to improve collaboration in these rapidly evolving, complex environments.The Startup Community Way is an explanatory guide for startup communities. Rooted in the theory of complex systems, this book establishes the systemic properties of entrepreneurial ecosystems and explains why their complex nature leads people to make predictable mistakes. As complex systems, value creation occurs in startup communities primarily through the interaction of the "parts" - the people, organizations, resources, and conditions involved - not the parts themselves. This continual process of bottom-up interactions unfolds naturally, producing value in novel and unexpected ways. Through these complex, emergent processes, the whole becomes greater and substantially different than what the parts alone could produce.Because of this, participants must take a fundamentally different approach than is common in much of our civic and professional lives. Participants must take a whole-system view, rather than simply trying to optimize their individual part. They must prioritize experimentation and learning over planning and execution. Complex systems are uncertain and unpredictable. They cannot be controlled, only guided and influenced. Each startup community is unique. Replication is enticing but impossible. The race to become "The Next Silicon Valley" is futile - even Silicon Valley couldn't recreate itself.This book:* Offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, community builders, government officials, and other stakeholders who want to harness the power of entrepreneurship in their city* Describes the core components of startup communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as an explanation of the differences between these two related, but distinct concepts* Advances a new framework for effective startup community building based on the theory of complex systems and insights from systems thinking* Includes contributions from leading entrepreneurial voices* Is a must-have resource for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, executives, business and community leaders, economic development authorities, policymakers, university officials, and anyone wishing to understand how startup communities work anywhere in the world

Learn from the BestGreat leaders of innovation know that creativity is not enough. They succeed not only on the basis of their ideas, but because they have the vision, reputation, and networks to win the backing needed to commercialize them. It turns out that this quality--called "e;innovation capital"e;--is measurably more important for innovation than just being creative.The authors have spent decades studying how people get great ideas (the subject of The Innovator's DNA) and how people test and develop those ideas (explored in The Innovator's Method).Now they share what they've learned from a multipronged research program designed to determine how people compete for, and obtain, resources to launch new ideas:How you can build a personal reputation for innovationWhat techniques you can use to amplify your innovation capitalHow you can garner attention for your ideas and projects and persuade audiences to support themWhat it means to provide visionary leadership and how you can achieve itFeaturing interviews with the superstars of innovation--individuals like Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk (Tesla), Marc Benioff (Salesforce), Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo), and Shantanu Narayen (Adobe)--this book will help you position yourself and your ideas to compete for attention and resources so that you can launch innovations with impact.

One of the start-up world’s most in-demand executive coaches—hailed as the “CEO Whisperer” (Gimlet Media)—reveals why radical self-inquiry is critical to professional success and healthy relationships in all realms of life.Jerry Colonna helps start-up CEOs make peace with their demons, the psychological habits and behavioral patterns that have helped them to succeed—molding them into highly accomplished individuals—yet have been detrimental to their relationships and ultimate well-being. Now, this venture capitalist turned executive coach shares his unusual yet highly effective blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial straight talk to help leaders overcome their own psychological traumas. Reboot is a journey of radical self-inquiry, helping you to reset your life by sorting through the emotional baggage that is holding you back professionally, and even more important, in your relationships.Jerry has taught CEOs and their top teams to realize their potential by using the raw material of their lives to find meaning, to build healthy interpersonal bonds, and to become more compassionate and bold leaders. In Reboot, he inspires everyone to hold themselves responsible for their choices and for the possibility of truly achieving their dreams.Work does not have to destroy us. Work can be the way in which we achieve our fullest self, Jerry firmly believes. What we need, sometimes, is a chance to reset our goals and to reconnect with our deepest selves and with each other. Reboot moves and empowers us to begin this journey.

In Social Media Made Me Rich, learn the specific strategies that the world's highest-paid Internet entrepreneurs are using to multiply their impact and get rich.

Designing for the Circular Economy highlights and explores 'state of the art' research and industrial practice, highlighting CE as a source of: new business opportunities; radical business change; disruptive innovation; social change; and new consumer attitudes.

Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture as well as those who want to take their organization to the next level, she offers advice on what works and what doesn't.

The essential playbook for the future of your business What To Do When Machines Do Everything is a guidebook to succeeding in the next generation of the digital economy.

Proven principles for sustainable success, with new leadership insightPEAK is the popular, transformative guide to doing business better, written by a seasoned entrepreneur/CEO who has disrupted his favorite industry not once, but twice. Author Chip Conley, founder and former CEO of one of the world's largest boutique hotel companies, turned to psychologist Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs at a time when his company was in dire need. And years later, when the young founders of Airbnb asked him to help turn their start-up home sharing company into a world-class hospitality giant, Conley once again used the principles he'd developed in PEAK. In the decade since this book's first edition, Conley's PEAK strategy has been developed on six continents in organizations in virtually every industry. The author's foundational premise is that great leaders become amateur psychologists by understanding the unique needs of three key relationships--with employees, customers, and investors--and this message has resonated with every kind of leader and company including some of the world's best-known, from Apple to Facebook. Avid users of PEAK have found that the principles create greater loyalty and differentiation with their key stakeholders. This new second edition includes in-depth examples of real-world PEAK companies, including the author's own at Airbnb, and exclusive PEAK leadership practices that will take you--and your company's performance--to new heights.Whether you're at a startup or a Fortune 500 company, at a for-profit, nonprofit, or governmental organization, this book can help you and your people reach potential you never realized you had.* Understand how Maslow's hierarchy makes for winning business practices* Learn how PEAK drove some of today's top businesses to success* Help employees reach their full potential--and beyond* Transform the customer experience and keep investors happyThe PEAK framework succeeds because it elevates the business from the inside out. These same principles apply in the boardroom, the breakroom, and your living room at home, and have proven to be the foundation of healthy, fulfilled lives. Even if you think you're doing great, you could always be doing better--and PEAK gives you a roadmap to the next level.

More and more women are starting to feel like there are so many opportunities out there to turn their ideas into a reality, build a successful business and do what they love. The problem is that they don't really know how to go about it. This book provides strategies for them to make it happen. It is full of personal stories, tips and exercises.

Stay ahead of the sales evolution with a more efficient approach to everything Hacking Sales helps you transform your sales process using the next generation of tools, tactics and strategies.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos are often grouped together as some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time, but they also have something else in common they are all introverts. In The Introvert Entrepreneur professional coach Beth Buelow shows us how introverts can utilise their natural gifts (such as listening) and overcome their weaknesses (such as an aversion to networking) when it comes to starting a business, taking on the mistaken but prevailing assumption that entrepreneurial success belongs to the extroverts.What many people, including introverts themselves may not know, is that the strengths and traits of the typical introvert curiosity, desire for depth over breadth, comfort with going solo, thoroughness and thoughtfulness and love of research lend themselves well to entrepreneurship. This book shares the stories and lessons from introverts who have built successful businesses and created a way of life that honours their natural energy. Topics covered include fears, mind-set, failure and self-management, values, networking, marketing, sales, creating community, partnership and expansion. An introvert trying to be a fake extrovert is just that: a fake extrovert. The Introvert Entrepreneur takes a strengths-based approach to being a successful entrepreneur, while also helping you deal with the particular roadblocks you may encounter when building a business.

Leverage the framework of visionaries to innovate, disrupt, and ultimately succeed as an entrepreneur The Lean Entrepreneur, Second Edition banishes the "Myth of the Visionary" and shows you how you can implement proven, actionable techniques to create products and disrupt existing markets on your way to entrepreneurial success.

The real story of what it takes to risk it all and go for broke. Conventional wisdom says most startups need to be in Silicon Valley, started by young engineers around a sexy new idea, and backed by VC funding. But as Mikkel Svane reveals in Startupland, the story of founding Zendesk was anything but conventional.

Thanks to the decreasing cost of prototyping, it's more feasible for professional makers and first-time entrepreneurs to launch a hardware startup. But exactly how do you go about it? This book provides the roadmap and best practices you need for turning a product idea into a full-fledged business.Written by three experts from the field, The Hardware Startup takes you from idea validation to launch, complete with practical strategies for funding, market research, branding, prototyping, manufacturing, and distribution. Two dozen case studies of real-world startups illustrate possible successes and failures at every stage of the process.Validate your idea by learning the needs of potential usersDevelop branding, marketing, and sales strategies early onForm relationships with the right investment partnersPrototype early and often to ensure you're on the right pathUnderstand processes and pitfalls of manufacturing at scaleJumpstart your business with the help of an acceleratorLearn strategies for pricing, marketing, and distributionBe aware of the legal issues your new company may face

Now the same is happening to manufacturing - the world of things. Chris Anderson, bestselling author of The Long Tail, explains how this is happening: how such technologies as 3D printing and electronics assembly are becoming available to everybody, and how people are building successful businesses as a result.

This is the book is for anyone who has ever dreamed of being a farmer. Practical and optimistic, You Can Farm gives prospective farmers a clear, step-by-step approach to turn their vision of a farm into a marketable reality. Illuminating both the pitfalls and the promise of farming, Salatin shows how you can make a living, and even a profit, by working the land. This readable guide is packed with advice that takes into account the whole farm, from getting along with neighbors to deep bedding livestock.

Young serial entrepreneur Scott Gerber is not the product of a wealthy family or storied entrepreneurial heritage. Nor is he the outcome of a traditional business school education or a corporate executive turned entrepreneur.